Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-29
STIFF POKER PLAYING.
Major Edwards Risks His Newspaper on
His Hand, but 1t was His DeaI.

\ few days ago Major Edwards, the boss
! poker-player of the Red River valley, was
! in St. Paul. He came on business, but
when his presence in the town was known
Frank Pettigrew, the whiom Congressman,
and Melville Grigsby, the South Dakota
dictator, hunted him up, and in less than
an hour the three were comfortably locked
! in splendidly upholstered Office in the
rear of the First National Bank, with their
hats drawn down over their eyes, fighting
| like bulldogs, over variega!ed jack-pots
Grigsby and Pettigrew had the advantage
in that they were fighting on their own
heath, and fortune seemed inclined to
| give the Major a cold shoulder; but
he stood his ground well and met
his losses with the grit of a Spar
| tan. All the afternoon and into the
night the battle waged, growing hotter
each hour, and the beautifully colored
red and blue chips were gradually piling
up under the chins of Pettigrew and
Grigsby, while the Major had been COM
PEELED to lay several checks of good round
proportions on the table to meet the
''stabs' that his antagonists were making
at him. The sweat was rolling down his
face: there was an anxious look in his
ewes, and he showed signs of nervousness.
He was heavy loser, and it began to look
as though he would have to walk back to
Fargo. AT last the cards were passed to
him to deal, and, shaking them together
carelessly he laid them over on Grigsby's
side of the table to cut. Grigsby didn't
cut. Slowly the Major dealt the cards I'M
til the hands were out. 1t cost a 500 bill
to stay, and Grigsby raised it to 5000
Edwards saw that and dropped his check
for $500 more in the center of the table.
Pettigrew and Grigsby looked curious, but
| they were in, and had to meet the raise,
which they did.
"Cards?" said Edwards.
"One !" said Pettigrew.
"One " said GrigsSy
Slowly the Major gave them their cards,
and pulling five from the pack, laid them
down in front of him.
"The devil" thought Grigsby.
"What a snap!" thought Pettigrew.
The Major picked up his cards and
glanced them over. Grigsby's eyes snap
ped for he had queen full on Jacks. Pet
| tigrews eyes glistened, for he had four
kings. The Majors eyes had a sort of sor-
rowful expression.
"rll bet 81 900 that my hand is good"
said Pettigrew, showing up chips and
checks.
an bet 1000 that my hand is better"
said Grigsby, raising Pettigrew's bet.
The Major laid down his cards and said
Gentlemen, Pm broke. Pve checked
out to you the last cent I've got in the
bank but if either one of you want to take
mortgage on my newspaper office for
$4,000, I'll give it to you and bet that
amount of money that my hand wins the
pot"
Gone of his old-time bluffs" thought
Grigsby and Pettigrew, and the latter
promptly said: "Tll take the mortgage.
Major, and advance you the money, and
I'll call the bet"
"rll do the same" cried Grigsby, filling
out blank check for $4,000 and laying it
on the center of the table.
l reckon Eve got you, for here are four
kings said Pettigrew, tossing his cards
down ahead of time
The h-lw calculated Grigsby crush
ing his queen full in his hand
Hem p said the Major, Z" it's pretty
tough, gentlemen, but had to have em.
Here are four aces. It's funny how they
stuck together that way"
He ralled in the pile, and the game
ended.
Outside Grigsby said to Pettigrew, did
you ever see such luck?"
Pettigrew replied Luck You seem to
forget that twas his deal"-.S Paul Globe.
The insolvent bank often has the finest